{"id":1058,"date":"2023-07-19T17:36:02","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T01:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.inedc.com\/23\/?p=1058"},"modified":"2023-07-23T17:40:08","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T01:40:08","slug":"keep-pets-current-on-rabies-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inedc.com\/23\/news\/keep-pets-current-on-rabies-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Pets Current on Rabies Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"
PLACERVILLE, Ca. (InEDC) El Dorado County Health & Human Services, Jul 19, 2023<\/pre>\n
El Dorado County Animal Services is reminding residents to keep pets current on rabies vaccines and immediately notify Animal Services of any animal bite to a human or pet.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll 58 counties in California are rabies endemic areas, which means the rabies virus is always present in the community,\u201d said Animal Services Chief Henry Brzezinski. \u201cRabies can be fatal. El Dorado County Animal Services strongly urges pet owners to vaccinate all dogs, as required by state law, as well as cats against rabies and to keep their pets under a watchful eye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the beginning of 2023 El Dorado County Animal Services has identified seven skunks that tested positive for rabies. The most recent rabid skunk was found July 1 in the 4400 block of Blanchard Road in Placerville. During the months of April and May, two rabid skunks were found \u2014 one in the 500 block of Jim Hill Road in Placerville and one in the 2800 block of Polaris Street in Pollock Pines. Between January and March, four rabid skunks were found \u2014 one in the 4400 block of Blanchard Road in Placerville, one in the 5400 block of Comstock Road in Placerville, one in the 4400 block of Fawn Street in Shingle Springs and one in the 3600 block of Penobscot Road in Placerville.<\/p>\n
Animal Services has reports of rabid animals each year. In 2022 Animal Services identified a total of 22 animals (three bats, 18 skunks and one cat) that tested positive for rabies in El Dorado County. Historically, most rabid animals in El Dorado County are identified on the county’s West Slope, with smaller numbers reported in the South Lake Tahoe area, according to Brzezinski. Last year, rabid animals were found in numerous locations on the West Slope of El Dorado County, including the Placerville area, Shingle Springs, Georgetown, Garden Valley, Pollock Pines, Kelsey, Greenwood and Somerset.<\/p>\n
Animal Services Health Program Specialist Mary Hill advised pet owners should ensure that both dogs and cats are vaccinated. \u201cKeeping cats up-to-date on their rabies vaccine is important due to the fact that many people keep their cats outdoors, and cats are especially interested in wildlife,\u201d said Hill. \u201cAlso, puppies may now be vaccinated as early as three months of age; the law changed several years ago regarding the age when puppies can be vaccinated against rabies. In addition, and importantly, Animal Services advises that if you or your pet has contact with a suspected rabid animal that you report it immediately so that rabies testing can be performed.”<\/p>\n
Rabies is a virus spread through the bite and saliva of an infected animal. It is usually fatal to pets and humans if not treated shortly after exposure. While any animal can become infected with the rabies virus, bats, skunks and foxes are the animals most commonly found to carry the virus. Comprehensive vaccination programs in the United States have meant that rabies among domestic pets is now uncommon.<\/p>\n
To prevent the spread of rabies:<\/h4>\n
Maintain current rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and livestock.<\/p>\n